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L. T. BATES. MEANS FOR DESTROYING VESSELS AND PROTECTING SHIPS FROM TORPEDO ATT Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

ACKS.

APPLICATION FILED 'AUGJ, I917.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDELL T. BATES, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR DESTROYING VESSELS AND rnorncrme sHIPs' FROM ronrnno ATTACKS.

Application filed August 3, 1917.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, LINDELL T. BATES, a cltizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Means for Destroying Vessels and Protecting Ships From Torpedo Attacks, of which the following is a specification.

7 My present invention pertains to an im- My present invention contemplates the use.

of one or more contact or detonated mines, adapted to be towed by'a vessel and so arranged that they may be given a course through three planes in the water to the rear of the vessel, so as to fully protect the same from a rear attack, or to destroy a vessel which may be astern thereof.

The arrangement which I propose to employ is such that each mine (be there one or more) will be caused to swing laterally and also to move vertically and forward and back, whereby a sinuous path will be taken by the mine through the water. This change of position in the course of travel may be effected through proper rudders, or

depth planes, or both, or torpedo-depth control apparatus, and under electric or mechanical control from the vessel which is towing the mine, or by automatic apparatus, on the mine itself.

Any means whereby the submergence 0f the mine may be varied and its lateral course caused to change or deviate may be employed. The ordinary depth-control employed upon a torpedo may be utilized, the regulation of the hydrostatic valve being effected from aboardship, or on the mine by automatic means, so as to cause the mine to be elevated or lowered, as the case ma be.

In the accompanying drawings there is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919,

Serial No. 184,327.

shown diagrammatically an outline of the lnvention, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a ship, showing a mine being towed therefrom; p

Fig. 2 a plan view showing three mines placed in rear of the vessel; and

Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of a mine such as may be employed to effect the objects and purposes of the present invention, and showlng more or less diagrammatically means for controlling the rudders and depth planes.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Figs. 1 and 2, 1 denotes the ship, carrying at its stern an electrically or power driven Windlass 2, from which extends a tow-line 3, having attached to the outboard end thereof a mine l. Said mine may be of the contact type, or a type which may be detonated from aboardship, or both combined, and will, as above noted, be provided with suitable means whereby its elevation or depth and its lateral movement or course may be changed or controlled from aboardship. It may be provided with depth planes 5, a vertical rudder 6,through the manipulation of which the mine may be caused to travel to one or the other side of the axis of the ship which is towing it, and also Withhorizontal rudders 7, which, working in conjunction with planes 5, give an easy control as to depth or submergence of the mine. The, Windlass, rudders and planes may be connected up aboardship through suitable electrical control devices, so that the operator may cause the mine to travel up and down, or laterally, or forward and back, or artake of all these motions at once. The rud ers, depth planes, and hydrostatic valves may be automatically manipulated by clockwork, or by mechanical gearing, or other transmission, from a stern propeller rotated by the forward movement of the mine.

In Fig. 3 I have shown, more or less diagrammatically, means for controlling the rudder 6 and the depth planes 5 and 7 The rudder 6 will be operated through a solenoid 11; a cable or sprocket-chain 12 passing about a drum 13 mounted on the shaft of the rudder, a coil spring or other reacting element 14 being secured to the opposite end of the cable or chain and working in oppo-' sition to the solenoid. Current for controlling the solenoid will be supplied through suitable wiring passing up through the towline.

A solenoid 15 will be employed to actuate the horizontally disposed rudders and depth planes 7 and 5, said solenoid being connected through suitable cables 16 and 17, as shown, to levers 18 secured to the shafts upon which the planes and rudders are mounted. It is ner. In fact, where these two widely separated towing lines are employed the central line might be omitted and the two mines 1O depended upon to sweep the space in rear of the ship or to contact with the forward portion of another vessel, if they are to be used for attacking purposes.

IVith the means above set forth the mines may be caused to take a sinuous path, being moved toward and from the vessel by drawing in upon the towing device, being caused to rise and fall through the planes 5 and the rudders 7, and to take a lateral movement by the rudders 6. Thus it will be seen that the mines have a dolphin-like motion and cover a relatively wide area in the rear of the ship.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a ship or vessel, a tow-line extending therefrom; a mine con nected to the line; and means carried by the mine to cause it to move laterally and also up and down as it is towed through the water. 7 r

2. In combination with a ship or vessel, a tow-line extending therefrom; a mine connected to the line; vertical and horizontal rudders 011 the mine; and means for controlling the position of the rudders.

3. In combination with a ship or vessel, a tow-line extending therefrom; a mine connected to the line; means carried by the mine to cause it to move laterally and also up and down; and means for drawing the line in and paying the same out as desired.

4. In combination with a ship or vessel, a tow-line extending therefrom; a mine connected to the line; means for causing the mine to travel laterally with reference to the axis of the ship first in one direction and then in another; and means for causing it to move up and down.

5. In combination with a ship or'vessel; a tow-line extending therefrom; a mine con nected to the line; and means for causing a simultaneous movement of the mine through three planes.

6.. In combination with a ship or vessel,

a plurality of tow-lines extending therefrom; a mine connected to each line; means carried by each mine to cause it to move laterally and also up and down; and means for drawing the tow-lines in and paying the same out as desired.

7. In combination with a ship or vessel, a plurality of tow-lines extending therefrom; a mine secured to each line; and means carried by each mine to cause the mine to move laterally through the water with reference to the axis of the ship, first in one direction and then in another, and also to cause it to move up and down while moving laterally.

8. In combination with a ship or vessel, a plurality of tow-lines extending therefrom; a mine secured to each line; means for drawing the lines in and paying the same out as desired; and means carried by each mine to cause the mine to move laterally through the water with reference to the axis of the ship, first in one direction and then in another, and also to cause it to move up and down.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LINDELL T. BATES.

Copies of this patent'may be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

